What My Mother Told Me
BY ANNA DENISE MILLARD
DIRECTED BY ANNA G. RICHARDSON
MAY 22, 2017
7:30 pm
WEST END PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
945 RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY BLVD, ATLANTA, GA

Faced with a life-altering secret and no one to trust, Hester Bennett makes an unannounced visit to her estranged daughter’s college dorm with hopes of mending their relationship. Using humor and nods of magical realism, What My Mother Told Me explores how generations of lingering puritanism affect women in the 20th century Protestant South.

Featuring: Lane Carlock, John Benzinger, Brooke Owens, Annie Cook, Allan Edwards, Tad Cameron,

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A cross-post from HowlRound that asks the question, “Why Theatre?”

On Dialogue: a Playwriting Class
by Lauren Gunderson

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Join Essential Theatre, the Atlanta Region Dramatist’s Guild and the Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library System – Central Library on May 5 from 4-6pm for a Dramatist’s Guild “Conversations With” featuring playwright, screenwriter, and short story author Lauren Gunderson in an open discussion of her approach to writing, career strategy, and current projects. The event will be led by the Guild’s Atlanta Regional Rep Pamela Turner and will include time for audience questions and a short meet-and-greet.

Originally from Atlanta, Gunderson was the first recipient (2001) of the Essential Theatre Playwriting Award, and in 2016 she was honored with the Dramatists Guild’s prestigious Lanford Wilson Award.

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The Essential Theatre will be holding General Auditions for its 2017 season from 1-5 p.m. on March 25.
Auditions will be held in Room 210 of the Rich Building on the Emory University campus, at 1602 Fishburne Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322. This is at the corner of Fishburne Drive and Fishburne Lane, across the street from the Fishburne Parking Deck.
Please bring headshot/resumes and two contrasting monologues of not more than 4 minutes total length.

To make an appointment, contact [email protected], or call 404-212-0815.
All roles will be stipend-paid.

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Thanks to everyone who came out to this year’s Festival Announcement Event. We had a great time!

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Jacobi Howard is the playwright and actor featured in Monday night’s Bare Essentials reading, Pants on Fire!

Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Jacobi Howard, 32 years old. I am an actor and playwright from Charlotte, NC. Fairly new in town and making my rounds to become acquainted with the very spectacular arts community here in ATL. I graduated with my BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the arts in 2011. Favorite food: Avocado and wheat crackers.

Please share in your own words a little about the play we’ll be seeing.

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JOIN ESSENTIAL THEATRE AND FRIENDS ON FEBRUARY 25 AT GET SCENE STUDIOS FOR OUR 2017 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT EVENT!

Meet and congratulate the 2017 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award winner.
Be there when the 2017 Festival lineup is revealed!
Mix and mingle with past Essential playwrights and company members.
Be first in line to get your 2017 Festival Pass, which go on sale Feb 25!
Celebrating 19 years of the Essential Theatre Festival, during which we’ve produced 29 new works by 24 different Georgia playwrights, with readings of over 25 more.
Celebrating Essential’s – and Georgia’s –

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Download press release: And the winner is…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Essential Theatre announces the winner
of the 2017 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award

February 2017 – Essential Theatre is proud to announce the winner of the 2017 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award: G. M. Lupo’s Another Mother.

Another Mother follows the journey of Genevieve as she pieces together the mysterious identities and relationships between her biological mother, her birth mother, and the mother who raised her. “It’s about unintended consequences,” says Lupo, “and how our actions may affect others we know little or nothing about.”

Another Mother will receive a full production in the 2017 Essential Theatre Festival this summer as well as a cash prize.

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Georgia Ensemble Theatre in Roswell has been a tremendous supporter of Topher Payne in recent years, commissioning and producing multiple new works of his. Closing this weekend is his latest mainstage commission, “Greetings Friend, Your Kind Assistance Is Required,” featuring a phenomenal cast of local greats including past Essential collaborator Brenda Porter as the main character, Rhonda.

Don’t miss your chance to see this delightfully escapist-feeling romp with moments of heartfelt insight – get your tickets today!

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